Multifocal peripheral bronchial carcinoid tumour

Surgical treatment of synchronous multiple neuroendocrine lung tumours (case series): is more always better?

Pulmonary neuroendocrine lung tumours are uncommon neoplasm; the presence of multiple and synchronous lesions is rare, and few case report are described in the literature. We present a case series of three patients without particular symptom and radiologic finding of multiple synchronous pulmonary nodules. All the patients underwent surgical treatment; histopathologic examination revealed typical carcinoid tumours in all three cases (one patient has a synchronous atypical carcinoid). No oncological progressions were observed at follow-up. A review of current literature is also presented with a suggested strategy management.

Chemotherapy for locally advanced and metastatic pulmonary carcinoid tumors

OBJECTIVES

The optimal management of locally advanced and metastatic pulmonary carcinoid tumors remains to be determined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted on patients with typical and atypical pulmonary carcinoid tumors treated at our institutions between 1990 and 2012.

RESULTS

300 patients were identified with pulmonary carcinoid, (80 patients with atypical carcinoid), of whom 29 presented with metastatic disease (16 atypical). Of evaluable patients, 26 (41%) with stages I-III atypical carcinoid tumors recurred at a median time of 3.7 years (range, 0.4-32), compared to 3 (1%) patients with typical carcinoid (range, 8-12.3). 39 patients were treated with chemotherapy, including 30 patients with metastatic disease (27 atypical), and 7 patients were treated with adjuvant platinum-etoposide chemoradiation (6 atypical, 1 typical, 6 stage IIIA, 1 stage IIB). At a median follow-up of 2 years there were 2 recurrences in the 7 patients receiving adjuvant treatment. Median survival after diagnosis of metastatic disease for patients with atypical pulmonary carcinoid was 3.3 years with a 5-year survival of 24%. Treatment regimens showing efficacy in pulmonary carcinoid include 15 patients treated with octreotide-based therapies (10% response rate (RR), 70% disease control rate (DCR), 15 month median progression-free survival (PFS)), 13 patients treated with etoposide+platinum (23% RR, 69% DCR, 7 month median PFS), and 14 patients treated with temozolomide-based therapies (14% RR, 57% DCR, 10 month median PFS). 8 of 10 patients with octreotide-avid disease treated with an octreotide-based regimen experienced disease control (1 partial response, 7 stable disease) for a median of 18 months (range 6-72 months).

CONCLUSIONS

These results support our previous finding that a subset of pulmonary carcinoid tumors are responsive to chemotherapy.

Synchronous bilateral multiple typical pulmonary carcinoid tumors: a unique case with 10 typical carcinoids

Bilateral multiple typical carcinoid tumors of the lung are uncommon malignancies. We discuss the case of a 64 year-old female with a nonproductive cough as the initial symptom. Thoracic computed tomography revealed multiple nodular lesions on both sides, which were initially misdiagnosed as multiple metastases of the lung with an unknown primary. After resection of nodules in the right hemithorax, pathologic examination revealed a typical carcinoid tumor. Bilateral sequential thoracotomy was performed and all ten nodules, (six on the right side and four on the left side), were treated by sublobar resection due to poor respiratory function. Pathological examination revealed all nodules to be typical carcinoid tumors. Following the resections, the patient has remained disease-free for ten months.

Significance of multiple carcinoid tumors and tumorlets in surgical lung specimens: analysis of 28 patients

BACKGROUND

The clinical significance of multiple carcinoid tumorlets in surgical lung specimens has not been systematically analyzed. We reviewed our experience to determine the range of clinical circumstances associated with this finding.

METHODS

We reviewed clinical records, available imaging, and pathology materials from patients evaluated at Mayo Clinic Rochester (from 1987 to 2000) with two or more carcinoid tumors or tumorlets in lung specimens.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight of 294 patients with a diagnosis of carcinoid tumor or tumorlet had two or more lesions. Twenty-six patients (93%) were women; mean age was 65 years. Patients were categorized into three groups: multiple nodules (n = 17), solitary lung nodules on preoperative imaging (n = 7), and airflow limitation (n = 4). Approximately half of patients with multiple nodules had respiratory complaints; two patients had Cushing syndrome. Ten patients (58.8%) were suspected of having pulmonary metastases, including 7 patients with previously diagnosed malignancies. Intrathoracic lymph node metastases were present in three patients, none of whom had recurrent disease. One patient had a carcinoid tumor resected 8 years later. Extrathoracic metastases developed in another patient 3 years after presentation, and the patient was alive with disease 2 years later. Only one patient with airflow limitation had a syndrome resembling diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our series represents the largest compilation of multiple carcinoid tumors or tumorlets. Our analysis reveals that multiple carcinoid tumors or tumorlets occur most commonly in patients with multiple nodules resembling metastatic disease. Significant airflow limitation is rare. Long-term survival is excellent, although patients have persistent disease.